Men's Soccer

Gauchos Hold Off CSF

Fullerton, Calif. -
Luis Silva scored two goals and assisted on the other two Saturday night as UC Santa Barbara held on for a 4-3 Big West Conference men's soccer victory at Cal State Fullerton.

The No. 19 ranked Gauchos improved to 11-5-1 overall and 4-4 in the Big West while the Titans fell to 7-6-4 and 1-5-2.

Silva's second goal gave UCSB a 3-0 lead five minutes into the second half and that awakened the Fullerton offense. Freshmen Mark Vasquez (25 seconds later) and Gerzon Blanco (in the 69th minute) scored their first collegiate goals to bring Fullerton within, 3-2.

Fifi Baiden's first goal of the year put UCSB back up, 4-2, in the 78th minute but Fullerton scored one more time in the 81st minute as Oscar Aguero converted a free kick from just outside the penalty box. Fullerton could not come up with a serious challenge in the final 9 minutes playing a man down.

"The game was very indicative of how things have gone for us the last five matches," said Fullerton Coach Bob Ammann. "We didn't convert our chances and they did theirs. The players gave everything and for that I am very proud. UCSB is a good team and we had them on the ropes when it looked like they would walk away with the game. The fight and resolve the players showed was a testament to their character.

"Even down 0-2 at half we felt we had a very good chance as it very easily could have been 4-2 in our favor if their keeper hadn't been on his game. After battling back to make it 2-3 we had a great chance hit the post and another cleared off the line, so giving up the fourth was tough. But the boys kept battling and got right back in it with the third goal. The straight red card forced us to change things up but we still carried momentum. Unfortunately, we just ran out of time."

Silva's first goal came in the third minute when he took a cross from James Kiffe out of a corner kick situation and beat CSF goalkeeper Trevor Whiddon. Silva fed Josue Madueno on a 2-on-1 rush after a Fullerton turnover for a score that made it 2-0 exactly 22 minutes into the match.

Fullerton had not scored more than one goal in a match vs. UCSB in the last 13 meetings but tonight's outburst came up short and the Gauchos won for the 15th time in the last 16 meetings.

Fullerton travels to UC Davis and hosts Cal State Northridge in the regular season's final week next week.

NOTE: Individual shots in box score not accurate... computer failure... but goals and saves are accurate.